Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabpurp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabpurp’ characterized by its violet-colored flowers with darker violet venation, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabpurp’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabpurp’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during November 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with the attractive flower coloration, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 2049-12, not patented, characterized by its dark purple-colored flowers with prominent venation and prostrate growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was a pollen mix of 13 proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selections 1015-1m-1a, 1015-1m-3b, 1023-2, 1031-3, 1032-4, 1036-1, 2045-6, 2049-1, 2057-1, 2058-1, 2058-5, 2061-1, and 2074-1a, not patented, characterized respectively by the following flower colors dark blue, magenta pink, rose, red, cherry, light blue, bright pink, dark purple, bright pink, yellow, white, blue, and dark rose. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2003 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings in June 2003 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabpurp’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Violet-colored flowers with darker violet venation;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Uscali51’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,874. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Uscali51’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabpurp’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcabpurp’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of two individual flowers of ‘Balcabpurp’ showing the difference in coloration as the flowers mature. The flower on the right is just open; the flower on the left is fully mature.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jun. 1, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 50° F. to 58° F. (10° C. to 14° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabpurp. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection designated 2049-12, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Pollen mix of 13 proprietary             Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selections, 1015-1m-1a,             1015-1m-3b, 1023-2, 1031-3, 1032-4, 1036-1, 2045-6, 2049-1,             2057-1, 2058-1, 2058-5, 2061-1, and 2074-1a, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 10.3 cm. Width: Approximately 40.8 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 7             main branches per plant, with lateral branches forming at             very node.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 24 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.9 mm. Texture: Hirsuite. Color:             144C. Internode length at center of branch: Approximately             1.6 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 26.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement on flowering             stem: Opposite. Aspect: At right angle to stem. Shape:             Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 2.7 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             1.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely             pubescent with short, soft hairs. Color of upper surface of             mature foliage: 137A with venation of 145B. Color of lower             surface of mature foliage: 137C with venation of 145B.             Petiole length: Approximately 3.9 mm. Petiole diameter:             Approximately 1.3 mm. Petiole texture: Densely pubescent             with short hairs. Petiole color: 145B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabpurp’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10.5 weeks from sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, salverform. Quantity per plant: Approximately             93.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Number of buds showing color per             plant: 35. Shape: Oblong. Length: Approximately 2.5 cm.             Diameter at apex: Approximately 8.2 mm. Texture: Puberulent.             Color: 79B.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 4.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Puberulent, densely             pubescent along veins. Upper petal length from tube:             Approximately 1.7 cm. Petal length of free portion:             Approximately 6.7 mm. Petal width: Approximately 1.7 cm.             Lateral petal length from tube: Approximately 1.4 cm. Color             of upper surface when first open: Background of N81A with             venation of 83A. Color of upper surface when fully open:             Darker than N87A fading with age to N87A with venation of             83A. Color of lower surface when first open: 77B with             venation of N79A. Color of lower surface when fully open:             83D fading with age to 86C with midvein of 83A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 9.2 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Tube texture inner surface: Glabrous.             Tube texture outer surface: Densely pubescent with short             hairs. Color inner surface: 9A with venation of N79A. Color             of outer surface: 14C with venation of N79A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, pliable. Aspect: Erect to 45             degree angle. Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.9 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short             hairs. Color: 144A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Sepal length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Sepal width: Approximately 3.1 mm. Texture of upper             and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent with short hairs.             Color of upper surface: 146A. Color of lower surface: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 fused to             inside of corolla tube. Stamen length: 2 are approximately             1.1 cm and 3 are approximately 9.0 mm. Filament length of             free portion: 2 are approximately 1.0 cm and 3 are             approximately 8.0 mm. Filament color: 145A. Anther shape:             Oval, two parted. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 13B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             10B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145A. Style             length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 145C. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 145B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabpurp’, substantially as herein shown and described. 